The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-02-11
lie PENITnNrIlRY LEASE.

What is to he done with cur con-
vIcts, is a question which is disturb
ing the thinking minds in this
state, Just now. Now that the
political canvass is over, the battle
lost and won, and the impression
created by the harangue Of the
demgaogue has been succeeded by a
sober second thought, it is much
easier to ask than 10 answer this
question. 1t is quite an easy matter
10 raise objections to the lease system
but it IS more difficult to suggest
something better. Some people de-
light in tearing down existing sys-
TENS and in finding fault with what
ever is. but seem to take no thought
as to what is TO be done in the
event the prevailing system is bro
ken down and destroyed. All viii
admit that such men are not safe
counselors, and that they are lack
Ing IN every element Of statesman
ship The attacks which have been
made upon the Penilentia,y lease
in this ttate have been a harvest for
the two-cent politicians. Without
it they would have been wanting
for a theme which their imbecIle
intelJects could grasp. The olap>
trap which they have been enabled
to parade before the people about
convict Labor coming in competition
with honest labor, would have been
woefully out of time. With all that
has been said upon that subject,
there is no popular demand in Ten
ssee for an abolition Of the sys-
tenn. Every man with a thin BILE
full of brains in his Uranium knows
thai unless the convicts are kept in
perfect idleness, and not allowed TO
do work of any kind; cr if made to
work al all, that their labor must
necessarily come ia competition, to
some extent, with that of honest
labor. Ifthey are made to build
railroads, to work on public Building
or on the farms, they will be taking
from honest labor work which, o,h~
erwise, the latter would be glad to
do. none are 50 silly as to take the
position that the criminal classes
should be fed and clothed at the ex-
pense Of the hardworkiug honest
laborers. who are taxpayers, and
not be made to work and help pay
the costs Of the criminal prosecutions.
Under the present lease the state
gets S101 900 per annum for the
hire Gifts convlcts, and saves about
SIS, 900 per aunum in the way of
transportation to the peniten tiarY,
as the Iessee7 are required to take
the convIcts at the county jails. If
the state undertakes to feed, clothe,
and guard these conyicts, it will cost
the taxpayers at least $3.50, 900,
making difference Of at least $780,
600 per annum to the taxpayers.
Is this desirable, or does any one
want such change made2 Our
State Treasury is certainly III no
condition for such radical change
in the financial affairs Of the State
1t will necessitate raising at least
1856, 900 more revenue than is now
raised. And every dime of this
sum, together with the costs of its
collection, must be aid on the taxa
bic values. And who IS to be bene-
flied thereby? Not one in a thousand
of the people of this state would be
benefited one iota by it. If the
proposed amendment to the cOnsti-
tuition prohibiting the manufacture
and sale of liquors in tins state be
comes a part Of OR organic law, an
other quarter of a million Of revenue
Will be cut of. Then at least $780,
600 more taxes would have to be
levied on the property of the state
than Is now levied and collected.
In the interest of the people and
taXpaY ers of this ate, it behoOves
the present Legislature to go SLOW
on the proposition to abolish the
lease system There is no demand,
or necessity for it. Il the question
was submitted directly to the people
they would say let it stand and we
hope this Legislature will say so